WI - Canada refuses “Big Soda’s“ recycling plan?

MatthewB

Banned
As a lad growing up in 1970s - 1990s Toronto, Canada whenever we bought soda in larger than single serving size, or what we colloquially refer to as pop, the product came in glass bottles, and a deposit was charged on the sale. These bottles were returned to place of purchase or any retailer of same products for refund of the deposit. The bottling firms, of which most were small, regionally owned firms took the bottles back from the retailers when they delivered their orders, washed the bottles and refilled them for resale.

But that all changed in the late 1980s and early 1990s, when the big soda firms offered to pay a one time “investment” for the setting up of curb side collection and recycling programs. Once established, “Big Soda” dropped the glass bottles and moved to plastic bottles, and began closing the smaller, regional bottling firms and private contracts since the bottles were lighter and easier to ship (and no heavy, empty bottle returns to collect and ship back) from mega bottling centres.

The last hold out province, Prince Edward Island finally gave in to “Big Soda’s” demands and canceled legislation requiring all pop be sold in refillable bottles (no plastic bottles or cans allowed).
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/prin...sing-bottling-plant-in-charlottetown-1.742867
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/prin...ers-pop-tabs-as-p-e-i-s-can-ban-ends-1.752462

But what if Canada’s provinces stood their ground and told the soda firms they must sell soda in refillable bottles, with the exception of the aluminum cans then already sold across Canada (and good biz for Canada’s Alcan except in PEI?
 
It a really a shame too, that's why I like Mexican coke, it taste better. That and the actual use of sugar.

It should have never stopped.
 
In the U.S., I thought returnable glass bottles disappeared because washing might not remove a potential poison a terrorist might place in the interior of the bottle.
 

MatthewB

Banned
In the U.S., I thought returnable glass bottles disappeared because washing might not remove a potential poison a terrorist might place in the interior of the bottle.
It would be easier to poison the country’s water supply.
 
I'm ashamed to say I never actually noticed this in my numerous trips to PEI over my life. Yes, I noticed the larger number of glass bottled drinks, but I assumed this was just one more tourist gimmick. Fascinating.

Worth noting that civilized and sophisticated provinces, so not the one you grew up in, have had deposit and refund programs on pretty much all non-dairy beverage containers for a very, very long time now. Even PEI according to my brief Google search. :)
 
@Nephi

Soda is best in bottle.. Plastic and can lined with plastic tastes like... Uhm.. Plastic.

Plus bottles are small and then you don't drink 2 ltr of it
 
As a lad growing up in 1970s - 1990s Toronto, Canada whenever we bought soda in larger than single serving size, or what we colloquially refer to as pop, the product came in glass bottles, and a deposit was charged on the sale. These bottles were returned to place of purchase or any retailer of same products for refund of the deposit. The bottling firms, of which most were small, regionally owned firms took the bottles back from the retailers when they delivered their orders, washed the bottles and refilled them for resale.

But that all changed in the late 1980s and early 1990s, when the big soda firms offered to pay a one time “investment” for the setting up of curb side collection and recycling programs. Once established, “Big Soda” dropped the glass bottles and moved to plastic bottles, and began closing the smaller, regional bottling firms and private contracts since the bottles were lighter and easier to ship (and no heavy, empty bottle returns to collect and ship back) from mega bottling centres.

The last hold out province, Prince Edward Island finally gave in to “Big Soda’s” demands and canceled legislation requiring all pop be sold in refillable bottles (no plastic bottles or cans allowed).
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/prin...sing-bottling-plant-in-charlottetown-1.742867
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/prin...ers-pop-tabs-as-p-e-i-s-can-ban-ends-1.752462

But what if Canada’s provinces stood their ground and told the soda firms they must sell soda in refillable bottles, with the exception of the aluminum cans then already sold across Canada (and good biz for Canada’s Alcan except in PEI?

One way could be if some oversight and research was done and shown that the programs would not be adequate though alternately, another motivation could be not wanting to be dominated by foreign interests. I'm not sure what affect this would have though probably smaller plastic pollution over in Canada.

However, "Big Soda" was arrogant enough to try and inflyence politics, the backlash could force Canada to confront the USA about this though I'm not sure if neoliberal Clinton would do anything in regards to it.
 

MatthewB

Banned
However, "Big Soda" was arrogant enough to try and influence politics, the backlash could force Canada to confront the USA about this though I'm not sure if neoliberal Clinton would do anything in regards to it.
I expect a backlash or seachange is coming, and hard on plastics in both single-use and all packaging in Canada. It will start with bans of all single-use food plastics, but the real kicker will be making companies responsible for the packaging they use, meaning if you're Costco and the hairdryers you're importing from China have all plastic packaging you'll pay a big fine as opposed to the boxes we used to have.

$_1.JPG


Free-sample-custom-design-white-plastic-blister.png_300x300.jpg
 
I expect a backlash or seachange is coming, and hard on plastics in both single-use and all packaging in Canada. It will start with bans of all single-use food plastics, but the real kicker will be making companies responsible for the packaging they use, meaning if you're Costco and the hairdryers you're importing from China have all plastic packaging you'll pay a big fine as opposed to the boxes we used to have.

$_1.JPG


Free-sample-custom-design-white-plastic-blister.png_300x300.jpg

That could definitely impact and influence NAFTA for sure. A different NAFTA or even a lack of one would have just large consequences
 

MatthewB

Banned
That could definitely impact and influence NAFTA for sure. A different NAFTA or even a lack of one would have just large consequences
NAFTA does not override environmental protections. And most of the single-use plastic is either domestically produced (straws, bags) or made in China. I doubt much of what Canadians buy that's made in the USA or Mexico for that matter will be affected..... except these bloody things... but at least that's the most recyclable plastic in common use.

20171213_164720.jpg
 
NAFTA does not override environmental protections. And most of the single-use plastic is either domestically produced (straws, bags) or made in China. I doubt much of what Canadians buy that's made in the USA or Mexico for that matter will be affected..... except these bloody things... but at least that's the most recyclable plastic in common use.

20171213_164720.jpg

I also mean the influence American companies would have under this deal and may cause Canada and Mexico to try and renegotiate a few things
 

MatthewB

Banned
I also mean the influence American companies would have under this deal and may cause Canada and Mexico to try and renegotiate a few things
Ah. Well, I think Canada is waiting to see who wins next years POTUS and Congressional elections before we bother looking at NAFTA again. Our priority now is getting the pipeline built, as Trudeau said yesterday....

"As we've seen over the past few years, anything can happen with our neighbours to the south," Trudeau said. "Right now, we're prisoners to the American market."

https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/tasker-trans-mountain-trudeau-cabinet-decision-1.5180269
 
Ah. Well, I think Canada is waiting to see who wins next years POTUS and Congressional elections before we bother looking at NAFTA again. Our priority now is getting the pipeline built, as Trudeau said yesterday....

"As we've seen over the past few years, anything can happen with our neighbours to the south," Trudeau said. "Right now, we're prisoners to the American market."

https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/tasker-trans-mountain-trudeau-cabinet-decision-1.5180269

Yeah, but NAFTA was agreed on in 1994, so around the time of this. Perhaps the struggle between Big Soda and Canada creates political opportunity to better deal with NAFTA, especially if they get Mexico on their side to help
 

MatthewB

Banned
Yeah, but NAFTA was agreed on in 1994, so around the time of this. Perhaps the struggle between Big Soda and Canada creates political opportunity to better deal with NAFTA, especially if they get Mexico on their side to help
Ah yes, sorry I forgot we're looking backward. Yes, that makes sense. I'm not sure how much soda came across the border back then, or even now.
 
Ah yes, sorry I forgot we're looking backward. Yes, that makes sense. I'm not sure how much soda came across the border back then, or even now.

Well, even if it was not that much, it would be the principle which would be the point. Because if they’re gonna sign this big NAFTA deal, they need to make sure they won’t be screwed over, hence why Canada would want to revise the potential deal and bring Mexico into the fray.

Additionally, the increases scrutiny could lead to debates domestically.
 
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